Mont Ventoux to Alpe d'Huez
Ride from the Giant of Provence to the most iconic climb in the French Alps.
Highlights
✓ Climb both Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez
✓ Ride five legendary Tour de France climbs
✓ Six fully supported days of cycling
✓ Quiet roads through Provence and the French Alps
✓ Airport transfers from Marseille and to Lyon included
✓ Handpicked family-run accommodation
✓ Expert local ride support from the VeloVentoux team
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Riding Days | 6 |
| Distance | ~550 km |
| Climbing | ~11,000 m |
| Start | Puyméras (Mont Ventoux) |
| Finish | Alpe d’Huez (Le Bourg d’Oisans) |
| Airport Transfers | Marseille arrival / Lyon departure |
Introduction
If you’ve always dreamed of riding both Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez in the same trip, this is the tour.
We begin with three days based at VeloVentoux in the heart of Provence, where you’ll experience the Giant of Provence and some of our favourite local roads before heading north into the French Alps.
Over the following three days, you’ll ride through spectacular mountain scenery, quiet alpine valleys and classic Tour de France terrain before finishing with one of cycling’s greatest achievements—the legendary climb to Alpe d’Huez.
As a fitting finale, your final riding day takes you over two more Tour de France giants: the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer.
Throughout the week you’ll enjoy fully supported riding, carefully selected family-run hotels and the local knowledge we’ve built from more than twenty years of organising cycling holidays in Provence and the Alps.
Dates
4th to 11th September 2027
Cost
From £1550.00 per person
Single supplement £490.00
What's included in Your Tour
✓ Seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast
✓ Three roadside picnic lunches
✓ Return airport transfers (Marseille arrival / Lyon departure)
✓ Six fully guided and fully supported rides
✓ GPX route files
✓ Mechanical assistance and support vehicle
✓ Daily ride nutrition and refreshments
✓ Luggage transfers throughout the point-to-point section
Not included in Your Tour
✓ Flights to Marseille and from Lyon
✓ Evening meals – giving you the freedom to choose from a wide range of local restaurants throughout the tour
✓ Lunches except where stated in the itinerary
✓ Travel insurance
✓ Personal expenses, including drinks purchased outside of those provided during the rides
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Shakedown Ride
A return transfer from Marseille Provence Airport (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) is included, with both a morning and an afternoon transfer available to suit most flight arrivals.
Guests arriving on the morning transfer will have time to assemble their bikes before heading out on a relaxed 45 km shake-down ride to the beautiful perched village of Brantes, enjoying magnificent views of the north face of Mont Ventoux. It’s the perfect opportunity to stretch the legs, check the bike and settle into the week ahead.
In the evening, we’ll head to Bar Barry’s in Puyméras for dinner, where you’ll meet the rest of the group and look ahead to the adventure that awaits.
Day 2: Mont Ventoux
Today is the first full day in the saddle and the one you’ve all been waiting for. Starting from VeloVentoux in Puyméras, we’ll ride to Bédoin before tackling the legendary southern ascent of Mont Ventoux—one of cycling’s most iconic climbs.
After reaching the summit and taking in the spectacular views, we’ll descend the northern side to Malaucène, where we’ll stop for a well-earned lunch. From there, it’s a gentle 15 km ride back to VeloVentoux to relax and recover.
- Distance: 78 km
- Elevation gain: 2,300 m
A memorable first day that introduces you to the Giant of Provence.
Day 3: Tour du Ventoux
Today we ride the VeloVentoux Tour du Ventoux – our signature route and one of the best ways to experience the incredible landscapes surrounding Mont Ventoux. This spectacular 112 km ride with 1,400 m of climbing circles the mountain in an anti-clockwise direction, taking in quiet roads, dramatic scenery and picturesque Provençal villages.
We’ll stop for coffee in the charming village of Villes-sur-Auzon before climbing through the breathtaking Gorges de la Nesque, one of the most scenic roads in France. After lunch in Sault, we’ll return via the beautiful Toulourenc Valley, completing a memorable circuit of the Giant of Provence.
- Distance: 112 km
- Elevation gain: 1,400 m
A fantastic day’s riding that perfectly showcases the quieter, lesser-known side of Mont Ventoux and the beauty of Provence beyond the summit.
Day 4: Into the Drôme Provençale
Today we leave Provence behind and begin our journey towards the French Alps. Setting off from VeloVentoux in Puyméras, the route starts with the gentle climb of the Col de la Croix Rouge before winding through the spectacular Gorges de Saint-May, one of the hidden gems of the Drôme Provençale.
We’ll stop for a roadside picnic lunch near La Motte-Chalancon before tackling the Col de Prémol. At 11 km in length, this steady climb rises to 964 metres, but its average gradient of just 3.5% makes for an enjoyable ascent through beautiful mountain scenery.
After crossing the Drôme Valley, one final climb brings us to the picturesque village of Nonières, where we’ll spend the night at the welcoming Hôtel de Mont Barral.
- Distance: 116km
- Elevation gain: 2200m
Our luggage will be waiting for us on arrival, and tonight’s evening meal is included, giving you the chance to relax and recharge before another spectacular day in the Alps.
Day 5: Towards the Alps
Today’s ride brings your first real taste of the French Alps. Covering 105 km with 1,800 m of climbing, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as we leave the rolling landscapes of the Drôme behind.
After a short descent from the hotel, we ride through the spectacular Gorges des Gâts, where towering limestone cliffs rise on either side of the road. From here, the route begins the steady ascent of the Col de Grimone. While it’s a long climb, the gradients remain manageable, with the final 6 km averaging around 6%.
After crossing the Col de la Croix-Haute, we’ll stop for lunch before continuing through beautiful alpine meadows and open mountain scenery to our overnight stop in La Mure.
- Distance: 75 km
- Elevation gain: 1,450 m
A day of spectacular scenery that marks the transition from Provence to the Alps, with dramatic gorges, quiet mountain roads and your first real taste of Alpine riding.
Alpe d'Huez
Today may be the shortest ride of the tour, but it’s also one of the most memorable. Covering 65 km with 2,000 m of climbing, the day culminates with the iconic summit finish on Alpe d’Huez.
Before taking on cycling’s most famous ascent, there’s one more challenge to overcome. The Col d’Ornon is often overlooked, but it deserves plenty of respect. Stretching for 20 km, the climb averages a gentle 3.5%, although the final 5 km ramp up to an average of 7.5% as you make your way towards Bourg d’Oisans.
After a well-earned descent into Bourg d’Oisans, it’s time for the grand finale. The legendary 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez await, following the same road that has witnessed countless unforgettable moments in Tour de France history. Reaching the summit is a fitting climax to your journey from Mont Ventoux to the French Alps.
- Distance: 65 km
- Elevation gain: 2,000 m
A day you’ll remember long after the ride is over, finishing on one of the most iconic climbs in world cycling.
Day 7: Croix de Fer & Glandon
Today is your final day in the saddle and, since Mont Ventoux earlier in the week, probably the toughest. From our base in Bourg d’Oisans, we’ll ride into the heart of the French Alps to tackle the legendary Col de la Croix de Fer, one of the Tour de France’s most celebrated climbs.
After reaching the summit, there’s the opportunity to make the short detour to the nearby Col du Glandon, allowing you to tick off two iconic Alpine passes in a single ride before returning the same way.
- Distance: 77 km
- Elevation gain: 2,000 m
It’s a spectacular way to finish the tour, with breathtaking Alpine scenery, quiet mountain roads and two of France’s most famous cols providing a fitting finale to an unforgettable week of riding.
Day 8: Departure Day
After breakfast, we’ll transfer you to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport for your onward journey. The transfer takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, giving you time to reflect on an unforgettable week of riding from the Giant of Provence to the heart of the French Alps.
Whether you’re heading home with tired legs, new friendships and memories of Mont Ventoux, Alpe d’Huez and some of France’s most iconic mountain roads, we hope to welcome you back to VeloVentoux for another cycling adventure soon.
Tour Map
Is This Tour For Me?
Ideal if you:
✓ Want to ride both Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez in one holiday
✓ Already ride 100 km comfortably
✓ Enjoy climbing and long mountain days
✓ Want full vehicle support throughout
✓ Prefer riding with a small, friendly group